LeFlore Principal Alvin Dailey a leader for our times! (Your view)

Finally, we have a leader within our school system who is not afraid of enforcing the rules! I was thrilled to hear LeFlore Principal Alvin Dailey had suspended students for uniform violations -- not thrilled about the suspensions, but that this man has taken on the monumental task of being a leader and role model to his students.

Many parents within the school and community immediately rebuffed the suspensions as too harsh for mere uniform violations. The emphasis that Principal Dailey is trying to impart on his students is that the issue is not about uniforms...it could have just as easily been about gum-chewing, talking in class or listening to iPods. The issue is about following the rules.

So many parents have become advocates for their children's disrespect and refusal to obey authority. This defiance of authority has stretched thin the moral fabric of this country...so thin that any attempt to impart any modicum of discipline or respect is viewed as an attempt to undermine the child as a free-thinking human being. This couldn't be farther from the truth.

Principal Dailey said it best..."I inspect what I expect." The rules are made to be followed, not to see how many can be broken. Principal Dailey is trying to teach his students that if you cannot follow the simplest of uniform codes then how will you be able to remain gainfully employed and a productive member of society? We all know where rule-breakers end up...jail or dead.

We need more leaders like Principal Dailey. As a young African-American man, he is the prime example of what is right with this community and this country...not what is wrong. Principal Dailey's enforcement of the rules with action and not just words is what true leaders are made of. Now, let's do our job and help him by making our children follow.

Related Stories

Columnists

Alabama prisons

Through a series of interactive workshops, people shared their concerns about crowded prisons, listed possible actions and identified costs and consequences. What emerged from this exercise are these three possible approaches.